Anton berscii



(No Model.)

A. BERsol-l. BRIDLE BIT.

} Patented Feb. 25, 1890.

N PETERS Pholo-Uthogrzpllcr, Washington 0. U.

A UNIT STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTON BERSOH, OF AUBURN, YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CHRISTIAN YESINGER, OF SAME PLACE.

BRlDLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 422,004, dated February 25, 1890'.

Application filed September 30, 1889. Serial No. 325,597. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTON Bnsson, acitizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle-Bits; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to bridle-bits; and it consists of certain improvements in the same, fully explained in the following specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a bit which will operate in the ordinary manner under ordinary circumstances, but which, when necessity arises, is capable of great severity, at the will of the driver, by applying tension to the reins, and which will at once assume its normal condition upon releasing the rein.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved bit. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one Of the side pieces. Fig. 3 is a partial detail View.

Similar letters of reference indicate identical parts throughout.

A represents the mouthpiece, towhich are swiveled the side pieces B B. These side pieces are preferably made of the form shown, and are provided at their outwardly and forwardly projecting extremities with slots or openings 1), in which the reins are secured. The distance between the inner ends of the side pieces is preferably less than that between the outer ends.

In the opening I), I fasten an elastic strap C, preferably by means of the bar 1), around which the elastic strap passes, as shown in Fig. l, and is secured in place in any desirable manner. I also provide clips D, to which the cheek-pieces E of the bridle may be fastened.

The side pieces B are secured to the mouthpiece A in such a manner as to allow inward lateral movement of their inner ends, as shown in Fig. 1, and the mouthpiece is shouldered, as at ac, to prevent the elastic strap from foreing the forward ends against the nose of the horse.

. The operation of my improved bit is apparcut. The part A is placed in the horses mouth in the position shownin Fig. 2, the clips D extending upward and the cheekstraps passing over the head in the usual manner, while the elastic strap will pass over the nose. It is evident that with the bit in this position an ordinary pull on the reins F will effect the horse only in the usual manner of an ordinary. hit. As soon, however, as greater force is applied to the reins the side pieces will take the position shownin dotted lines, Fig. 1, the rearwardly extending arms 6 5 gripping the horses under jaw, which the yielding strap permits. Upon releasing the reins the elastic strap forces the side pieces back into their normal position.

Instead of using an elastic strap, I may, if I 76 prefer, useaspring G, (shown in Fi 3,) which may be located between the ends of the mouthpiece and the side pieces or at some other preferred point, and acts with precisely the same effect as the elastic nose-piece, tend- 7 5 ing to maintain the side pieces in their nor* mal position. (Shown in lines in Fig. 1.) It is also apparent that the form of the monthpiece and side pieces may be considerably modified without departing from the spirit 80 of my invention.

Any form of elastic nose-band may be used; but the form which I prefer I have illustrated in the drawings, where it is shown as being provided with two movable projections 0 C which are adjusted to fit over the nostrils of the animal, so that when the reins are retracted the elastic strap will be stretched and the lugs or projections forced inward against the nostrils, temporarily preventing the horse 9 from breathing.

When the bit is used in connection with a riding-bridle, it will be seen that by simply spreading the reins apart pressure will be brought to bear on the nostrils and jaws of the horse. Any method maybe adopted for moving the side pieces laterally.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bridle-bit consisting of a1nouth-- )iece, roo

two side pieces pivotally attached thereto and extending on each side of their pivots and elastically connected forward of said pivots, the said forward ends of said side pieces being constructed, as described, to receive the driving-reins, whereby extraordinary force applied through the rein will cause the side pieces to grip the under jaw of the horse, and on the removal of said force the grip will be released by means of the elastic connection, substantially as described.

2. A bridle-bit consisting of a mouth-piece, two side pieces pivotally attached thereto and extending forward of the same, the forward ends of said side pieces being provided with means, substantially as described, whereby the driving reins may be secured to the same, and an elastic nose piece provided with pads secured to said side pieces, substantially as described.

3. A bridle-bit consisting of a mouth-piece provided with two side pieces pivoted intermediate their ends, the space between the forward ends of said side pieces being greater than the length of the mouth-piece and the space between the rearward ends, slotted clips, openings in the forward ends of the said side pieces, bars in said openings, and an elastic nose-strap secured to said bars, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ANTON BERSOH. Witnesses:

CHRISTIAN YESINGER, ALBERT EHLERS. 

